Visual Impairment does not Limit Training Effects in Development of Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacity in Tandem Cyclists

The study aimed to investigate the differences in the effects of 7-month training on aerobic and anaerobic capacity in tandem cycling athletes with and without visual impairment. In this study, Polish elite (n=13) and sub-elite (n=13) visually impaired (VI) (n=13; 40.8 ±12.8 years) and properly sighted (PS) (n=13; 36.7 ±12.2 years) tandem-cycling athletes participated voluntarily in 7-month routine training. The following pre-/post-training measurements were conducted on separate days: maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) was estimated with age correction using the Physical Working Capacity test on a bicycle ergometer according to the Astrand-Ryhming method. Maximal power output (P(max)) was evaluated using the Quebec test on a bicycle ergometer. At baseline, VO(2max) (47.8 ±14.1 vs 42.0 ±8.3 ml/kg/min, respectively) and P(max) (11.5 ±1.5 vs 11.5 ±1.0 W/kg) did not differ significantly between PS and VI cyclists. However, differences in aerobic capacity were considered as clinically significant. Two-way ANOVA revealed that after 7 month training, there were statistically significant increases in VO(2max) (p=0.003) and P(max) (p=0.009) among VI (VO(2max), +9.1%; P(max), +6.3%) and PS (VO(2max), +9.1%; P(max), +11.7%) cyclists, however, no time × visual impairment interaction effect was found (VO(2max), p=0.467; P(max), p=0.364). After training, VO(2max) (p=0.03), but not P(max) (p=0.13), was significantly greater in elite compared to sub-elite tandem cyclists. VI and PS tandem cyclists showed similar rates of improvement in VO(2max) and P(max) after 7-month training. VO(2max) was a significant determinant of success in tandem cycling. This is one of the first studies providing reference values for aerobic and anaerobic capacity in visually impaired cyclists.